Medicinal plants as a tool for penal resocialization: an assessment of the psychosocial impact on inmates in Pombal-PB

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the impacts of cultivating medicinal herbs as a tool to support resocialization in prison environments. The research was based on the principles of Law No. 7.210/84 (Penal Execution Law – LEP), which guides the application of penalties in Brazil. The project was developed at the Pombal-PB Public Prison, a city located in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, where an agroecological garden was implemented with the participation of five inmates. The stages involved soil preparation, planting, management, and harvesting of therapeutic herbs, all conducted with guidance from volunteer professionals in the field of Agroecology. The investigation, of a qualitative and observational nature, used direct observation, participant reports, and daily records produced over six months of 2025. The inmates were selected based on their voluntary interest and good prison behavior. The objective of this research was to understand how agroecological horticulture, through the cultivation of medicinal plants, could influence the psychosocial, behavioral, and vocational indicators of the participants. The results showed that contact with nature and involvement in cultivation practices promoted feelings of responsibility, belonging, and reintegration, positioning the activity as a promising strategy for both promoting physical and mental health within the prison environment and for the process of social reintegration after serving a sentence.